THANK YOU !!!

Hello my friends!!!!! I wanted to make sure to send you a note before the year ends. We have gone through a lot during this past year. As 2008 is closing, I need to thank you.

Personally, so many of you have been there for me both with my own crazy life and also this wild ride called Comfort the Children. I don't think I can really write how deeply I love you and how much you mean to me. But I can try. What I feel is without you none of this is possible. I would not be the person I am today nor be able to take on these challenges if I did not have such an amazing support structure. I am a blessed, I know this. We all have hard times in our lives but with you I know I can accomplish anything. So here's to you, why the hell you even want to be my support structure, now that is the crazy part :) I try to run from myself at times so knowing you stick around is mad. Thanks for being those endless rocks in my life.

I also want to specially thank all those who over the past year have supported CTC and the projects in Kenya. Your donations and positive words of support are what have always kept us going. I am so happy to know we have added so many new CTC members to the crew and your kindness through making donations makes me personally proud to call you a friend. You never have to make any effort and that you do says so much about your love for others.

So Happy New Year my friends. I wish you were all here with me so we could throw a huge party and ring in the new year together. I will cheers you tonight and look forward to seeing you soon.

Love you!!!!!!!

New Classrooms Completed

We are expanding!!!! Well, yes, sort of growing but really just improving the current classrooms for the disabled children. Basically, we are taking one of the larger rooms we currently use as a store room and turning that into a classroom. And one of the dukas (shops) next to our current office vacated recently so we took over that and converted a huge room to a classroom. The previous two classrooms were great but small. The children were cramped. Now they can spread their wings and create more havoc. CTC has not given up the smaller classrooms though. What we have done is convert one into Mama Peter's (the malaika kids cook) kitchen. Currently, she is cooking in a side little alcove on the ground. No doors and not sanitary enough for the children. We were originally limited on space so we made it work but now even Mama is moving up :) The other old classroom has been turned into our new store room.

As many of you know my Bro, Luke, is in Kenya visiting and has been a rock star. He's been helping with any task put in front of him. The big challenge for the two of us was to get the new classrooms painted and ready for the children who return on Jan. 5th. It took a few days to get it complete but with Luke's great help painting we were able to complete a few days ago. The large wall hangings you see in the pics are the same as I wrote in a recent blog. They were donated by SEP (Special Education Professionals) and made by the fathers and mothers of the children. They look fabulous now with newly painted walls. I'll be updating with pics soon of the children using the new classrooms.

Personally, completing jobs and having a visual outcome to look at really does make work here all that much more enjoyable. Every day for me seems to be another adventure and rewarding experience. To be able to work along side my brother was a blessing. And to know our work has really nothing to do with us, nor benefit us personally in any way is .........Well you know at XMAS when you get a gift it feels one way. Wonderful, sure. But to give a gift. Now that is something COMPLETELY different. To watch a loved one open a little treasure from you and see the reaction is something special There is a deep, pure loving feeling that comes from giving. And I know Luke and I surely felt this during our painting expedition. I just hope the children will enjoy the rooms as much as Luke and I did to prepare them.

Until next post............

Drip Feed Pilot Program

We are off to the races!!!!  After our very successful community garden in town of which you have all seen pics, the next challenge....How do we get drip feed technology into the hands of the community?   Rocky and I have been working to develop a plan to roll out small, individual drip feed systems that are cheap and easy to install.   We have developed a 5 row, each 17 feet long with a 5 gallon bucket to supply the water.  Most of this system is sources locally in Maai Mahiu which also supports us supporting local community.  We had two well wishers out of the States (you know who you are and THANK YOU) who were very excited about this program and came forward a month ago to fund the initial 10 systems.  Each system costs $20 and that includes employing a local young man, John, to set the system up with the family.  So we not only give access to new technology for a family but also employ young, hard working individuals from MM.  One of the big issues with the town is lack of employment.  

judge the progress and if it works then move forward with another 5.  My hope is we have these systems installed in 50, 100....who knows maybe hundreds of families in Maai Mahiu.  We will also install sack gardens eventually which work out to be $3 a garden completely installed.  An very important part of this project was total family commitment.   The family has to be present for the installation and help through the entire process.  If they don't show up we don't install.  There needs to be ownership and through the installation John can education the family on how and why the system works.   

We have currently installed 3 systems with the other two being done this week.  The first was to one of the HIV patients we help support with food.  He has not been able to work so they are very desperate.  I included a picture of a man with his children working.  Truly amazing to see a person work even though he's so sick.   The second two families are those of grandmothers (ShoShos) from our community garden project.  They believe in our systems and constantly talk about how well the garden is progressing.  For us this is great press within the community.   The hope is those families surrounding the ones already with a drip system will talk and ask for the system also.    I also included a photo of John our project manager.  He had a long days work in the hot sun taking a well deserved rest.   In the future it would be nice to know we can employ him at least part time installing systems.  Who knows maybe we can turn this into a multiple employee business.....

I'll be updating pictures in the next month or two and show progress on the systems.  Thank you again to the donors who have funded this project.  CTC is low on funds currently so those who decide they want to adopt a program really help take off stresses.  Also, many new ideas are hard to get on the budget so working outside the box is pretty quick and successful.....

What would we do without partners?

What would we do without partners? Special Education Professionals (SEP) came to Maai Mahiu last week for one of their amazing toy making workshops. They hold these all over Nairobi building wall hanging, interactive toys for many facilities that take care of disabled children. Karolien, Edmond (physical therapist) and her two carpenters came with all supplies for a full day of work. They were very clear with us that they will bring the materials and expertise but we needed to supply mothers, fathers, brothers etc. who would work to make the toys. Not only did every mother participate, but so did various men from the families. We invited many but never knew who would show up. In fact, there were at times to many chefs in the toy kitchen but then we are not ever going to complain with extra help. It just goes to show the constant support shown by the community of Maai Mahiu.

The first picture is of one carpenter building feeding chairs for Danson and Francis. Both of these boys have cerebral palsy and cannot do much without the constant aid of those that look after them.. How their mothers do it on a daily basis and for an entire life is truly beyond dedication....it's sainthood really. The new chairs were built for the boys at their homes. Currently, they both have chairs at our facility just like the ones being built that were measured exactly for them. The issue is when they went home after our daycare and on the weekends there was no chair to aid. Back to laying on their backs. So SEP graciously volunteered to have home units made. I'll update with some pictures in the near future of the boys at home in the chairs. The second picture is of Francis who is in the standing aid supplied by SEP. This came last time they visited and allows these boys to look upright and work on standing muscles that have atrophied from years of inactivity. All donated by SEP!!!

The third picture is of Karolien who runs SEP and John our resident artist. One comment she made was that normally things like sewing and artistic touches are not around during a workshop but since we have all the ladies sewing just next store and John who is a great painter, it allowed for an easy day without interruption. John is putting the face on a lady who Karolien has made hair by which the children will play, putting clips and braiding to practice hand eye coordination. The fourth picture is of the men painting and working on a big domino set used by the children to practice matching and numbers. Damn I love dominos!!!!! These children have no clue what they are in for, domination :) I swear these toys are going to be used by me more than any little one. Ah well there have to upsides to it all, right?

The last picture is of my "little" (he'll hate that) bro, Luke. He joining in on the normal morning songs that start the day for the children. I was so impressed by him. He arrived from San Francisco the night before and by the time we got home and in bed it was 1AM but he was up at 7 and jumped right in. Talking about thrown into the fire head first. But he thrived. And that is so impressive. It takes people some time to feel comfortable especially around the children with disability. I think for people these children can show the weakness in human beings. And so with that we feel very insecure and awkward. But Luke did not, he bonded very quickly with them and they loved him for it. What we all realize working with these little ones is they are the same as any other child. They just have a bit more to struggle with in life. But that does not damper their spirit in any way. They are truly Malaikas .......Angels!!!!

We are retrofitting two new classrooms for the children before New Years that will be much bigger and better laid out. New paint, etc. Also, I'd like to start in the New Year employing on a part time basis a physical therapist to work with the children to improve motor skills. If anyone is interested in contributing to buying new mats for the floors, paint for the walls, additional learning material please let me know. Also, CTC has no funds to employ a physical therapist and anyone who wants to call this their baby we would be greatly appreciate. I have not done the exact numbers but it will be less than $100 a month for a therapist.

Thank you all for your constant support and please keep in touch we me. I know I am far away but I love hearing from you.

I'm Back !!!!!!

Hello Everyone!!! So sorry if I have been quiet for awhile, I went home at my 6 month to visit family. Thanksgiving has never been so good....I really never felt that writing about home was all that interesting to you so I've been MIA. But I just arrived into Kenya and back to the swing of things. Today was our Monday weekly staff meeting which serves as a sounding board for the managers of projects to voice their opinions and supply updates. So many great things happening and I will be updating the blog this week with pics.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is going to be both a sad and exciting day for me. Weird here how that seems to always be the case. First the sad part. Alison Costain, our Kenya National Director, is leaving for good. Well, I know she'll be back to visit and be part of CTC always so FOR GOOD is always relative. But she's decided to head back to Vancouver. We are going to miss her!!!! Al has been the central force over the past year who has built our facility Maai Mahiu, created so many quality projects and created a solid foundation for CTC. We could never have done what you see now as CTC without her. As an organization we are so thankful to have Al give her time and dedication for nearly a year and a half. A woman on her own in Kenya is truly inspiring, this place can be hard on people, but especially a woman. And that Al was able to get so much accomplished even against the odds is truly amazing. I have worked with her over the past 6 months and she's been a great friend and mentor. She has skills I wish to possess and hope to develop and has been truly welcoming to me. It's been fabulous sharing a house in Kabuku with her and creating so many memories!!! On a personal level I will miss her dearly and wish her all the best. I know that it's time for her to move on and she is going to be so happy teaching again. It's truly her calling! So Alison if you read this I love you and so does CTC and we appreciate all you have done for the organization. And I thank you for the great friend you have been to me. This is not the end "GIRL" so see you soon :)

And the exciting part, my bro is coming tomorrow night. I actually drop Alison at the airport and my bro arrives an hour later. All the way from good ole U.S of A. First time for him in Africa. It's going to be so special to be able to show him around and have some good adventures. The plan is to work a bunch in Maai Mahiu and then take a few trips. He's staying until just after New Years so here's to a good Dillon XMAS and New Years in Kenya. This country has no clue what it's in for .........